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An Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) is a new requirement for foreign nationals from visa-exempt countries arriving in Canada by air, whether to visit the country directly or to pass through in transit.

More immigrants chose to make Nova Scotia their home last year than at any time in the last 10 years, the provincial government said Monday. According to a statement issues by Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab 2,661 immigrants settled in the province in 2014.

Since 2004, when 1,771 immigrants arrived in Nova Scotia, the number rose almost every year and peaked at 2,651 in 2008 before dropping off to 2,138 in 2011 and increasing steadily in the past three years.

Among last year’s immigrants, 717 people came through the Nova Scotia Nominee Program — the highest figure to date for the program. According to the government, a total of 1,050 individuals are expected to gain permanent residency through the program in 2015.

According to Diab an increasing number of immigrants are choosing to stay in the province. The latest figures from Statistics Canada indicate 71 per cent of immigrants who arrived in Nova Scotia between 2007-2011 stayed in the province. Between 2003 and 2007 the retention rate for immigrants who arrived in Nova Scotia between was 69 per cent.

Diab said the province has streamlined the application process for skilled and educated immigrants, strengthened ties between government and settlement service providers and changed the nominee program to allow international students to stay in Nova Scotia.

“Nova Scotia is a welcoming community and we want to ensure our province is seen by immigrants as an excellent choice,” Diab said in a statement.

In 2014, the government accepted a major economic development report that said the province is facing a prolonged economic decline unless population and economic trends are reversed and suspicious attitudes about business are changed. The report was co-authored by Acadia University president Ray Ivany and stated that Nova Scotia’s population was expected to decline over the next 20 years due to young people continuing to leave the province in search of work.

The report says that by 2036, the province expects to have 100,000 fewer working-age people than it did in 2010.

Ivany said the number of people admitted annually to the province should be tripled.

Are you eligible to Immigrate to Canada?

The Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP) targets prospective immigrants who have the skilled and experience to boost the province’s economy and tackle demographic challenges.

Candidates who meet the criteria of one of six different streams can be nominated for Nova Scotia immigration, with a target processing time of three months.

The six streams are:

Nova Scotia Demand: Express Entry

Nova Scotia Experience: Express Entry

Skilled Worker

Physician

Entrepreneur

International Graduate Entrepreneur

Nova Scotia also operates ‘Study and Stay’, a program specifically aimed at helping international students from China, India and the Philippines stay and build careers in the region after they graduate.

Category A Requirements

Proven language ability in English or French at Canadian Language Benchmark 7.

Score 67 points or more on six selection factors.

Have the financial resources to successfully settle in Nova Scotia;

Have a Canada Express Entry profile registered.

Category B Requirements

One year of skilled work experience in one of the target occupations (see table below).

Canadian high school credential or equivalent.

Proven language ability in English or French at Canadian Language Benchmark 7.

Score 67 points or more on six selection factors.

Have the financial resources to successfully settle in Nova Scotia;

Have a Canada Express Entry profile registered.

Nova Scotia Jobs In Demand

Occupation

NOC

Skill

Financial auditors and accountants

1111

A

Other financial officers

1114

A

Professional occupations in advertising, marketing and public relations

1123

A

Administrative assistants

1241

B

Accounting and related clerks

1311

B

Civil engineers

2131

A

Information systems analysts and consultants

2171

A

Computer programmers and interactive media development

2174

A

Computer network technicians

2281

B

User support technicians

2282

B

Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses

3012

A

Licensed practical nurses

3233

B

College and other vocational instructors

4021

A

Paralegal and related occupations

4211

B

Social and community service workers

4212

B

Financial sales representatives

6235

B

2. Nova Scotia Experience: Express Entry

High skilled immigrants with experience in Nova Scotia qualify under the Nova Scotia Experience: Express Entry stream. As a core requirement, candidates require one year of experience in a National Occupational Classification (NOC) O, A or B position.

Eligibility Requirements: Nova Scotia Experience: Express Entry

At least one year of work experience in Nova Scotia.

Be 21 to 55 years old.

Canadian high school graduate or equivalent.

Language proficiency in English or French: Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 7 for skilled work in NOC 0 and A, CLB 5 for NOC B jobs.

Register a profile in the federal government Canada Express Entry pool.

3. Skilled Worker

The employer-driven Skilled Worker stream is aimed at foreign workers and international graduates. Employers who have been unable to fill positions with Canadian citizens or permanent residents can access the stream after receiving a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).

Candidate Requirements

Full-time permanent job offer from a Nova Scotia employer.

At least one year of work experience related to the job (semi-skilled and low-skilled workers must have six months of experience with the job-offering employer).

Be aged between 21 and 55.

Minimum high school diploma.

Appropriate training, skills and/or accreditation, if required.

Language ability in English or French equal to Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) Level 5 for skilled workers, CLB Level 4 for semi-skilled and low-skilled workers.

Financial resources to successfully settle in Nova Scotia.

4. Physician

The Nova Scotia Physician Stream assists the province’s public health system to hire general practitioners, family physicians, and specialist physicians. It is designed to help recruit and retain doctors for positions the province has been unable to fill with a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.

Requirements

Legal Status in Country of Residence

If you are living in Canada, you must provide proof of your legal status as a temporary worker or visitor.

If you apply from outside Canada, you must provide proof that you have legal status in your country of residence.

If you have lost your status, you are not eligible to apply until your status has been restored.

Job Offer

Written approved opportunity with the Nova Scotia Health Authority (NSHA) or the Izaak Walton Killam Health Centre as a:

General practitioner and family physician (NOC 3112) OR

Specialist physician (NOC 3111)

The approved opportunity must be on official NSHA or IWK letterhead and must:

Be signed and dated by a person authorized to hire physicians at the NSHA or IWK

Be signed and dated by the applicant who is accepting the opportunity

Indicate eligibility for licensure with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of NS

Indicate that the applicant is eligible to apply for privileges and credentials with NSHA and the IWK

Education and Training

A copy of an Education Credential Assessment or proof of education and medical training required for licensure in Nova Scotia.

Language Ability

The ability to perform the job in one of Canada’s official languages as evidenced by an employment offer from the NSHA or the IWK.

5. Entrepreneur

The Nova Scotia Entrepreneur stream targets candidates with business ownership or senior management experience. They must live in Nova Scotia, either start a new business or buy an existing business, and actively participate in the day-to-day management of that business.

Under the Entrepreneur stream, candidates are first issued a temporary work permit before applying for permanent residence after operating the business for a year. The stream uses an Expression of Interest format, where candidates in a pool are invited to apply.

Entrepreneur Stream: Steps

Expression of Interest

Invitation to Apply

In Person Interview and Business Performance Agreement

Work Permit and Business Establishment in Nova Scotia

Request for Nomination

Apply for Permanent Residence

Entrepreneur Stream: Candidate Requirements

Be aged 21 or older.

Want to live permanently in Nova Scotia while owning and actively managing a Nova Scotia business.

Minimum net worth of $600,000.

Minimum investment of $150,000 to establish or purchase a business in Nova Scotia.

Minimum 3 years of experience actively managing and owning a business (33 per cent ownership minimum) OR more than 5 years of experience in a senior business management role.

Score minimum of 5 on the Canadian Language Benchmark in speaking, listening, reading and writing in English or French.

6. International Graduate Entrepreneur

The International Graduate Entrepreneur stream is similar to the Entrepreneur stream, only aimed at recent graduates from a Nova Scotia university or the Nova Scotia Community College. They must have started or purchased a Nova Scotia business and operated it for a year on a Post-Graduation Work Permit.

Candidates are nominated for permanent residence if they intend to settle in the province. The stream works on an Expression of Interest format similar to the Entrepreneur stream.

International Graduate Entrepreneur: Steps

Expression of Interest

Invitation to Apply

In-Person Interview and Nomination

Apply for Permanent Residence

International Graduate Entrepreneur Stream: Candidate Requirements

Want to live permanently in Nova Scotia while owning and actively managing a Nova Scotia business.

Minimum one year of continuous experience actively managing and owning your current Nova Scotia business (100 per cent ownership).

Have completed a degree or diploma including minimum 2 academic years of full-time, in-person study at a Nova Scotia university or the Nova Scotia Community College.

Valid post-graduation work permit.

Minimum score of 7 on the Canadian Language Benchmark in speaking, listening, reading and writing in English or French.